Perdue friend asks judge to throw out flights case

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — A friend of North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue has asked a judge to throw out criminal charges related to unreported flights on private planes provided to the Democratic politician.

Trawick H. “Buzzy” Stubbs Jr. of New Bern filed requests Wednesday seeking dismissal of charges stemming from more than $28,000 paid for chartered flights not reported as contributions by Perdue’s 2008 campaign. He pleaded not guilty last week.

Stubbs’s lawyer argues that Wake County is not the correct location for the case and that District Attorney Colon Willoughby does not have the proper legal authority to investigate campaign finance irregularities.

Stubbs is the former law partner of the governor’s late first husband. Stubbs was indicted in November along with two former Perdue fundraisers accused of using illegal contributions.